How to take the perfect head shot.
Brian Adams
Photography Industry Professional ?? Commercial Photo + Video Production Since 2002 ?? Executive Producer / Business Development @ JRP and at Big Wave Productions
Your head shot is more important than you think. It is most people's first impression of you . . . not just what you look like, but of who you are: your personality, your attitude, your qualifications, and your experience.
It needs to convey to multiple complete strangers (potentially very important complete strangers) that you are simultaneously approachable, friendly, trustworthy, confident, experienced, a winner, and an expert. No pressure, right?
So you found a photographer, a location, you picked out your wardrobe, and you made a last-minute trip to your hair stylist. What's the number one thing you can do to ensure head shot perfection?
First, here's what not to do: Don't practice in a mirror or with your phone, don't think about specific facial expressions or what your "best side" is. Don't think about that blemish that just popped up. All of these are recipes for failure. You'll be concentrating too hard on smiling just right so your crow's feet don't show. It will be completely unnatural and it won't show the real you!
So many things like lines, blemishes, teeth, and even the size of your eyes, nose, and mouth, can all be fixed after the fact with Photoshop. The most important thing you can do is relax and actually think (and be!) those descriptive words from before: approachable, friendly, trustworthy, confident, experienced, a winner, and an expert. Pretend you are meeting a prospective client for the first time, shaking their hand and actually looking them in the eye. If you are in the right mindset and you stop thinking about the minutae, you'll end up with a great looking head shot that is sure to open many doors for you.
If you’re in downtown Orlando this Wednesday, May 9th, I am offering 5-minute head shot sessions for just $25 in advance / $30 day-of: https://calendly.com/brianadamsphoto/5-minute-head-shot-session-with-brian/05-09-2018